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There are few things in this world that I love more than doing laundry. It ranks up there with flaying my skin off with a potato peeler. As much as I loathe spending my days off separating colors, presoaking grass stained jeans and trying to find matches to socks that clearly do not want to be found, it is a necessary evil that I must tackle.

General Lifestyle

Come experience the many flavourful delights of gardening at the 20th Annual Nashville Lawn and Garden Show, Thursday through Sunday, March 5-8, at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

The largest annual gardening event in Tennessee, the 2009 show, staged to the theme “Yards of Flavour,” will include an acre of live gardens, a series of 22 free lectures and cooking demonstrations, a floral design gallery featuring the work of the region’s best designers, and 250 exhibit booths offering the products, plants, services, and gardening supplies and equipment of vendors from 12 states.

“For our 20th anniversary, we have put together a show spotlighting gardens designed in a variety of ‘flavours’ -- traditional Southern garden retreats, whimsical gardens, Asian-inspired gardens, and of course, tasty vegetable and herb gardens,” said Randall Lantz, co-manager of the show produced by the Horticultural Association of Tennessee. The 2009 show is sponsored by Regions Bank.

Column

Have you ever heard of an “intensifier”? I’m getting an education from my granddaughter’s education! They’re learning so much nowadays that I never heard of back in the days of the three R’s. Is it really better?-Grandmother in Neighboring Town

Guest Column

On Feb. 8, I had the honor of attending the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Eric Sorrels and Reed Sorrels. Lebanon should be extremely proud of their accomplishments. Reaching the rank of Eagle signifies that Eric and Reed have learned practical life skills that will enable them to “be prepared” for whatever life may have in store for them.

General News

Approximately 25 law enforcement personnel from Lebanon Police, Mt. Juliet Police and Wilson County Sheriff’s Departments conducted another criminal warrants sweep of some of Lebanon’s high crime areas on Tuesday night.

Officers had warrants for 32 persons who have been charged on a range of offenses from parole violations to harassment. A news release from the Sheriff’s Department said 14 of those individuals had been arrested, and 18 arrest warrants had been served. Citations in lieu of arrest were issued in several other cases.

Two citizen appeared before Lebanon City Council Tuesday to complain about the city’s support of the proposed Bible Park, with one of them, Derek Dodson, filing ethics complaints against former Mayor Don Fox, City Liaison Sue Akins Siens and current Mayor Philip Craighead because they supported the group proposing the park.

The park, originally proposed for Rutherford County which turned it down over zoning issues, was first offered to Wilson County and Lebanon in September 2008.The $175 million park is proposed to be constructed on a 113-acre tract fronting on I-40 between Cainsville Road and Tater Peeler Road.

The park, being promoted by BPUSA and Rob Wyatt, has been approved by both the county and the city to be a Tax Increment Financing project, with the developers responsible for issuing and repaying bonds based on that money.

Initially, Lebanon citizen Dave Kirkey told city council that the Hard Rock Park, which had been pointed to as an example of how the Bible Park would prosper, was sold yesterday. Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C. was developed by SafeHarbor, the company that initially proposed the Bible Park in Rutherford County and in Lebanon. Hard Rock Park filed for bankruptcy last year, a few months after it opened.

The Myrtle Beach park brought $25million, but was in debt for about $400 million, he said.

He also asked whether the group proposing the Bible Park had provided any financial information to the city or the county yet, and was told they had not.

Kirkey also told the council that while he has heard it said that using TIF for the park would not cost taxpayers money, it would cost for fire, police, roads and other services provided by the city and the county.

“Those costs would normally be paid by the taxes collected on property in the area now covered by the TIF,” he said.

Then Dodson accused Fox, Siens and Craighead of complicity for supporting the park and said he was “suing” the officials.

Dodson also accused five members of the council, except Ward 1 Councilor Alex Buhler, of complicity in supporting the park, the financing of which he claimed is based on fraudulent information. Buhler has consistently voted against the project.

Then just as his time was up, Dodson handed City Attorney Andy Wright ethics complaints against Fox, Siens and Craighead.

These were only the latest in a snow storm of such complaints Dodson has made against local elected officials.

He also delivered 18 similar complaints to County Attorney Mike Jennings last week during a Budget Committee meeting.

However, Jennings said he hasn’t had time to go through all the paperwork Dodson gave him.

“What he handed me was an inch-and-a-half thick,” Jennings said. “I haven’t had time to go through it.”

Jennings did add that the complaints were against all county commissioners who had voted in favor of the park.

Jennings said he would first need to read through all the material and then convene the County Ethics Committee, which is chaired by District 8 Commissioner Frank Bush, who is also one of the commissioners named in the complaints.

Wright said he will also need to read the material and then turn it over to one of three local attorneys, David Viele, Robin Vance Kent or Brent Gibson, approved to investigate ethics complaints by the city council.

But he pointed out two of the complaints are possibly invalid anyway. The first against Fox “may be moot since he no longer works for the city.”

In the case of Craighead, Wright said the complaint appeared to be based on campaign materials, and if so the city ethics policy doesn’t apply, because he was not yet a city employee.

Both attorneys agreed that Dodson would have to provide evidence to prove his claims.

In other business, during the work session before the meeting, City Planner Magi Tilton asked the council to consider adding an ordinance to their next agenda which would lower the payment in lieu of sidewalks from $10 to $5.

She said the change could help solve some of the issues with the current sidewalk regulations.

She also pointed out that the each payment in lieu option still would have to be approved by the planning commission and the council.

Other possibilities that have been discussed include eliminating the sidewalk requirement for industrial areas, commercial areas, or any areas farther than one-half mile from schools.

Tilton said when the planning commission looked at the other possibilities they also seemed to mean Lebanon would not become a walkable city.

During the meeting, council:• Approved extending Cracker Barrel’s lease for a hanger at the Lebanon Airport for 10 years.• Approved a service agreement with the Gladeville Utility District to provide sewer service to some of their customers. • Approved a “Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan” with the county. The plan would allow the city and county to respond more effectively in the event of a major emergency, if for example Wilson County was hit by tornadoes like those that struck Sumner and Macon Counties in February 2008.• Approved the first reading of an ordinance that would allow businesses near the interstate to have signage on the backs of their buildings if the back is toward the interstate.• Agreed to transfer two workers from Engineering to Water and Waste Water, and to promote a worker to fill a truck driving position in the Sanitation Department.• Deferred a request to hire two temporary workers for Sanitation and a request to advertise for a Water Treatment Plant Operator, until it can be determined if those jobs can be covered by transfers.• Extended the hiring freeze for part-time employees, consultants and contract employees until April 7.

A group of students from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Vanderbilt University in Nashville presented preliminary plans on Friday for developing an area within walking distance of the Music City Star’s stop just off Baddour Parkway.

The possible plans included developing a mixed use complex based around the Lebanon train station, designs for combined shopping areas and parking garages, and a new design for the Farmers Market and the area near it.

Burgers and fries, foot-long chili dogs, milk shakes and soft-serve ice cream cones via curbside service will return with a smile when the Snow White Drive-In reopens March 9.

When the doors of the historic restaurant closed last October, it did not escape the notice of entrepreneur Anthony Leath who lives less than a mile away. He had enjoyed many a weekend afternoon trip there for ice cream when his two daughters were young.

“I noticed it was empty and thought it was unfortunate. After it sat for two months I decided it would not be a bad idea to look into it,” said Leath, who bought the Satsuma Tea Room in downtown Nashville three years back and remodeled it into 417 Union.

General Sports

LEBANON -- The No. 2-seeded Friendship Christian Lady Commanders advanced to the District 8A semifinals with a lopsided 64-31 win over Merrol Hyde Magnet School Monday at the Bay Family Sportsplex. FCS, now 18-9, took control with a 21-9 first period and was never threatened.

Laurea Burroughs led the way with 16 points. Andi Morrisett, Katy Vaughan and Carly Warmath each had 11 points for the winners.

FCS will take on Westmoreland Friday at 7:30 p.m. as Watertown High hosts the tournament semifinal, finals and consolation round games.

MJCA fell behind 20-2 in the first quarter and ended the season with a record of 10-17 overall. Sarah Worden had nine points for MJ Christian while Jordan Price and Emily Threadgill each finished with four points.

SHACKLE ISLAND -- An impressive showing at the Region 8 tournament Saturday sends 12 Mt. Juliet High 12 athletes to the TSSAA state wrestling meet Wednesday at UT-Chatanooga’s McKenzie Arena. All told, some 23 Wilson County grapplers qualified for the state by placing in the top three at the regionals.

Region 8 finals -- 103 Tanner Bates of Mt. Juliet won in a fall over Daniel Smith of Springfield, 3:18. This match was voted "Best Match" in the tournament.

Notified earlier this week she will is a finalist to repeat as Class AAA Miss Basketball in Tennessee, the University of Georgia signee has been selected to the 2009 McDonald’s All American Girls Basketball Team.

She will join the basketball elite as a member of the East team in the McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Game to be played Wednesday, April 1 in Miami at BankUnited Center on the University of Miami campus.

As a McDonald’s All American, Hassell will play among the top 24 female high school basketball players in the nation in what many basketball experts consider the premier high school all star game in the country.

Top-seeded Friendship Christian School is the only Wilson County boy’s team remaining in the District 8A basketball tournament. Two other local teams, Watertown High and Mt. Juliet Christian Academy, saw their seasons come to a close with first round losses Tuesday night.

Watertown fell behind early and never recovered in a 61-45 loss at Gordonsville. The G-Men improved to 12-14 on the season and will play No. 1 FCS in the semifinals 6 p.m. Friday at Watertown.

Watertown’s Nick Lennox led his team with 11 points while Dalton Phillips and Zack Neal had nine points apiece. Coach T.J. Hewitt’s team wrapped up the season with a record of 10-16.

Westmoreland 61, MJ Christian 53

Mt. Juliet Christian Academy closed out the season with a 61-53 first round tournament loss at Westmoreland High Tuesday.